Beyond the Word: Academic Writing Principles and Practices for EFL Students

Abstract

Beyond the Word: Academic Writing Principles and Practices for EFL Students is both a guide and a companion for first-year English majors at the “Blaže Koneski” Faculty of Philology in Skopje, as well as for anyone seeking to strengthen academic writing skills. It introduces writing as a creative, reflective, and disciplined process through which ideas are shaped, knowledge is built, and students develop their academic voice. Grounded in scholarship in English for Academic Purposes, applied linguistics, and genre-based pedagogy, the book presents writing as a dynamic, recursive practice of planning, drafting, feedback, revision, and reflection. Its structure follows a clear progression: Part I explores the nature and role of academic writing, its conventions, and the importance of feedback and critical engagement; Part II develops the linguistic and structural foundations of effective writing, focusing on vocabulary, coherence, and paragraph organisation; Part III guides students through common essay types, encouraging adaptability rather than rigid templates. Designed at the B2+/C1 CEFR level, the coursebook combines model texts, guided analysis, and reflective tasks to foster both linguistic competence and critical thinking. More than a manual, it invites students to enter academic discourse as a space for inquiry, reflection, and intellectual growth.